Ep 14. It's How You Play the Game

Murphy Brown season 1 episode 14, titled "It's How You Play the Game," follows the veteran journalist and her colleagues at the Washington-based television news magazine FYI as they cover a high-stakes volleyball game between the White House and members of Congress.

The episode explores the ways in which the game of politics is not so different from the game of sports, with both requiring a certain amount of strategy, gamesmanship, and sometimes, dirty play. Murphy and her team are all eager to cover the match, hoping to get a great story out of it.

Along the way, Murphy learns that her father has passed away, and she struggles to reconcile her complicated feelings about him. Meanwhile, her friend and colleague Frank experiences a crisis of conscience when he realizes that he might have inadvertently contributed to an unnecessary death during his time as a soldier in Vietnam.

As the game progresses, tensions run high both on and off the court. The White House team, led by the President's chief of staff, is determined to win at all costs, even resorting to some questionable tactics in order to gain an advantage. In the end, Murphy and the FYI team are able to get the inside scoop on the game and the political maneuvering behind it, allowing them to produce a compelling story for their viewers.

Overall, "It's How You Play the Game" is a thoughtful exploration of the ways in which games and politics intersect. Through the lens of a high-stakes volleyball match, the episode delves into themes of competition, strategy, and the moral dilemmas that can arise when the stakes are high. At the same time, it also offers some emotional depth as Murphy grapples with the difficult legacy of her father, and Frank confronts the ghosts of his past. With its blend of humor, drama, and social commentary, the episode serves as a satisfying installment in the first season of Murphy Brown.